Samantha Withers had always wanted to go to university, but had never been able to settle in one place because of her father’s jet-setting life in the Royal Air Force.
And when she married an RAF serviceman, her ambitions had to go on hold for a little longer.
Now the 45-year-old mum, who lives in New Deer, has finally achieved her goal of a masters degree after graduating from the Robert Gordon University with an MSc degree in quality management.
Mrs Withers said it had been worth the wait.
She said: “I grew up in the services, living in places such as Scotland, England, Cyprus and Gibraltar and then I married young and my ex-husband was in the RAF so I continued to move around a lot.
“University was always something I wanted to do but just never got the chance.
“It was quite daunting to go back to education after having my three children, it was all new to me.
“My kids are quite proud and relieved that I’m not going to be studying so often.
“I chose quality management as I believe running a business using the quality management philosophies is the way to a successful and sustainable business.”
And Mrs Withers, who balanced being a full time mum, a .
“Don’t be afraid, and just go for it,” she said.
“You never know until you’ve tried.”